Vendetta

Chapter 1

L's eyes narrowed behind the protective goggles he wore as he watched the target move side to side in front of him. He had instructed that they move it back ten feet, but someone operating the targets thought it would be hilarious if it were moving as well. So far each one of his shots had been perfect in spite of their attempts to cause otherwise, and each shot had hit the target with deadly precision. Most of them had been body shots, centered on the heart; but he had also done disabling shots to the knee and one to the groin which had elicited a groan and laughter from Light in the aisle next to him.

"Damn Ryuzaki, that isn't disabling that's just cruel!" he had yelled, trying to be heard through the protective gear they were wearing to shield their ears from the noise. L had turned and looked at him seriously for a moment as he readied for the next shot.

"I can think of no better way to disable a male and leave a lasting impression," he had yelled back, which only made Light laugh again. The shot hadn't gone unnoticed from others in the shooting range either, especially those in control of the targets. It was after that shot that the target had begun to sway back and forth after L had instructed them to move it back another couple of feet via intercom. They were at the range for the NPA, and he wasn't completely surprised they were having a little fun with him; he had become rather notorious as Light's boyfriend over the past several years that Light had been there. He'd gotten used to the looks, the nudging, and the giggles when he arrived at headquarters to the point that he didn't see them anymore, not that he actually ever really cared in the first place. So when the target began to sway back and forth suddenly, he smiled, accepting the challenge.

He waited until Light had his turn, watching the handsome face set in concentration as he aimed and fired several rounds in rapid succession, hitting the mark each time. When they moved the target closer to him so he could see what he did, L nodded his approval.

"Well done, for the distance of course," he remarked as he reloaded his gun. Light frowned at the backhanded compliment.

"Excuse me? Is that a challenge?" he asked knowing full well what the answer would be, "How far away do you want the target? I can't think of a situation where I'd be aiming at someone in the next city!" L shrugged his shoulders as he prepared to fire.

"Don't exaggerate Detective Yagami," he said with a smirk, "I am not doubting you could hit the target if it were further away from you; perhaps just not as accurately as I could." He turned back to his still slightly swaying target and smiled, emptying his gun before putting it down. He pushed the button that would move his target to him to see the damage. As it neared, Light saw there were no hits to the head, nor the chest which were L's usual spots.

"Oh too bad Ryuzaki," he said with an almost evil chuckle, "I guess you found your limit."

L said nothing until the target was closer and Light suddenly stopped laughing. The target had all six shots in one place, in his groin, and the shots made a smiley face. Light stared at it open mouthed and then turned on L.

"You bastard!" he said finally making L laugh as he put down the gun.

"I think that's enough for today," he said continuing to look at Light under his lashes as he looked down at his gun preparing it to leave, knowing Light would not let that stand.

"Not yet!" Light nearly growled and raised his gun, signaling for them to move his target back a few feet and then emptied his own gun. L had to raise an eyebrow in surprise as he watched the target's head completely blow off under the barrage of Light's shots.

He crossed his arms as the headless target was moved closer, and looked over at the triumphant look on Light's face.

"Well, well I stand corrected," he said, "You can hit the target that far away, and employ a bit of overkill as well. Bravo, Light." He smirked and walked away from him heading for the door. Light stared after him wondering why he felt like he had received a back handed compliment and began putting his gun away.

"Wait a minute," he called after him and sprinted to catch up, "Didn't you think that was impressive?" L smiled at him and nodded.

"Of course it was impressive," he said as they walked out of the door together, "Just a bit unnecessary don't you think? Are you planning to behead the next criminal you are up against?"

"Well…of course not…but you…you made a smiley face!" Light defended and L grinned and pet Light's face.

"I did, didn't I?" he said then began walking again, "And you retaliated by blowing its head off. You could have made a smiley face too, you know. Come, I'm hungry, let's get lunch." He added as he walked.

"Then you would have accused me of copying you," Light answered, "And said something smart ass about my not being able to come up with something different. I was screwed no matter what I did." L smiled at him again.

"It was only shooting practice, no need to get so testy," he said, "I'll make it up to you after lunch." Light raised an eyebrow.

"How?" he asked.

"You decide," L answered and then looked around. "There's a nice café right on the corner," he said and moved in that direction.

"I'm going to hold you to that," Light said with a smirk, "Anything?"

"Of course, as long as it doesn't involve blowing my head off," L told him as they walked into the café then stopped to look at him, "I'm game for anything." He smiled seductively then went towards a booth, "Anything that will help your wounded pride."

"My pride is not wounded," Light defended as he sat down across from him, "I just know how you work." L chuckled as the waitress came to the table and he ordered two coffees as he perused the menu.

"And I know you, and just like me you would never let a challenge stand unanswered, "Even something as trivial as a shooting range challenge."

"Ryuzaki, you were showing off to those idiots who were messing with your target," Light told him as he fixed his coffee, "Not that I blame you." He added.

"It isn't showing off if you show what you're capable of," L corrected, "They assumed they had me at a disadvantage; I had to show them that was not the case." Light laughed before taking a sip.

"You certainly proved that," he agreed.

"And you took it as a challenge to yourself as well," he added sipping his own coffee.

"Because it was, don't pretend like it wasn't Ryuzaki." L smiled at him.

"Perhaps on a secondary level. But if we don't challenge each other it becomes boring," he grinned, "And we can't have that."

"Don't worry, when we get home you won't be bored," Light promised him and it was L's turn to chuckle.

"We shall see. I'm giving you free rein, don't waste it." He leaned forward and licked Light's nose quickly.

Light reached up and rubbed his nose. "Don't be disgusting in public," he said, a small blush rising to his face, "And don't worry, I won't waste it." In retaliation he slipped one shoe off and ran his foot up L's leg but didn't stop there. He zeroed in on his crotch and once reaching it wriggled his toes against it.

L nearly spit his coffee, making a strangled noise. He looked at Light, his wide eyes narrowing as he did.

"I see, you are still in a competitive mindset," he said reaching down and slapping Light's foot away. "May I suggest a truce until after lunch? It could get ugly and we wouldn't want that to happen in public." Light laughed and nodded.

"I agree. I'll save it for when we get home," he said then decided what he wanted for lunch as the waitress reappeared to take their order.

"So, have you decided exactly how you're going to extract payment from me for your wounded pride?" L asked as they got up from the table and headed for the door.

"I told you my pride isn't wounded, you just can't get away with being so cocky all the time," L answered as he walked out, "My pride is completely in….ooof!" the wind was knocked out of Light as a small child ran into him at full speed, knocking him backwards to the ground.

"Mama! Mama!" the child was crying as he fought to get away from Light.

"Hold on…" Light said after catching his breath, "What…Mama?" he asked in confusion and L chuckled as he bent down to be face to face with the boy.

"Are you lost?" he asked softly and the child nodded tearfully as Light straightened himself up.

"Where did you come from?" he asked brushing himself off, "Why were you running?"

The boy pointed to the crowd in the direction he had been running from, trying not to cry. "I lost…I lost my Mama!" he cried and both L and Light looked at the direction and then back at him. Light smiled and pushed the child's hair out of his eyes.

"Why don't you tell me your name and we'll walk back there with you and find your mother," he said reaching down and taking the child's hand. "I'm sure we can find her, she's probably looking everywhere for you."

"Akihiko," the boy answered, "I'm five years old." He said proudly with a smile. L looked into the bustling crowd on the street.

"He probably just got turned around after getting crushed in the crowd," he said and smiled at how Light was handling the child, he wouldn't have expected it after such a harsh meeting.

"Come on then," Light said squeezing the boy's hand, "Let's go find her." He looked over at L. "If we don't find her soon we may have to take him to a nearby station. She'd probably go there eventually to try to find him." L nodded as they headed into the crowd, searching for someone who would be frantically scanning the crowd.